MITCHELL, Robert Matthew (1874-1949) was active in Edmonton, Alta. from 1911 until 1916 where he held the position of chief draftsman to the Edmonton School Board, and later as Architect & Building Commissioner to the Board. Born in Scotland on 27 May 1874, he trained in Edinburgh with J. Graham Fairley (in 1896-98), and with McLuckie & Walker of Stirling (1898-1900). He opened his own office in Crieff, Tayside, in 1901. Due to a downturn in the economy and 'lack of opportunity' there, he emigrated to Canada in 1911 and settled in Edmonton, Alta. where he found a position with Roland Lines, FRIBA, a leading architect in that city. In 1913 he joined the Public School Board, and was promoted to Staff Architect for the Board, designing several schools in a impressive Collegiate Gothic style, and overseeing additions and renovations to existing buildings for the Board. He went overseas in 1916 to join British forces during WWI, and 1919 moved to Perth, Scotland to assist Donald A. Stewart, FRIBA, and became a partner with him in 1924 in the new firm of Smart, Stewart & Smith. Mitchell died in Scotland on 28 September 1949 (obituary R.I.B.A. Journal [London], lvii, January 1950, 120; biog. in R.I.B.A., Directory of British Architects 1834-1914, 2001, ii, 191; R.I.B.A. Application for Fellow, 14 May 1931)
CALGARY, ALTA., residences for Rowley & Carver, Elbow Park, 1911-12 (C.R., xxv, 13 Dec. 1911, 119)
EDMONTON, ALTA., Westmount Public School, 131st Street, 1913-15 (R.I.B.A., signed application for Fellow, 14 May 1931, list of works; M.A. Kostek, Looking Back: A Century of Education in Edmonton Public Schools, 1982, 131, illus. but lacking attribution)
EDMONTON, ALTA., Highlands Public School, 62nd Street, begun 1914; completed 1920 (R.I.B.A., signed application for Fellow, 14 May 1931, list of works; M.A. Kostek, Looking Back: A Century of Education in Edmonton Public Schools, 1982, 124, illus., but lacking attribution)